Overhead door



R. D. LOMAZ OVERHEAD DOOR April 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19,1962 FEEJE INVENTOR QALPH D LOMAZ BY QZQJ LWWA ATTORNEY R. D. LOMAZOVERHEAD DOOR April 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1962 m0 2 mm MD M 1 MM Y R. D. LOMAZ OVERHEAD DOOR April 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. 19, 1962 mm .ww m m E/ T V 0. m0

United States Patent 3,176,757 OVERHEAD DOOR Ralph D. Lomaz, SouthEuclid, Ohio, assignor to The Pacific Coast Company, Redford, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,890 4 Claims.(Cl. 160-209) This invention relates to doors and particularly tooverhead type garage doors.

Conducive to a better understanding of the invention, it may be well topoint out that so-called rolling overhead garage doors comprise aplurality of articulated panel sections mounted across a door opening onrollers which travel in parallel channeled tracks positioned on eitherside of the door opening and terminating in an inwardly extendinghorizontal plane above the door opening.

In order to provide a weather-tight seal, the door must contact the doorjamb when in its closed position.

To avoid the frictional drag that would result from continuous contactbetween the door panels and the jamb, as they are being slid toward oraway from their closed positions, the tracks are inclined away from thedoor frame sill at an inwardly and upwardly extending angle.

The rollers which support each panel section, going from the bottompanel to the top panel, are mounted on progressively longer bracketarms, whose lengths are in exact proportion to the increasing distancebetween the door jamb and the inclined tracks, when the door is in itsclosed position.

Therefore, as the rollers travel upward along the inclined tracks, thepanels will move away from the jamb, and as the rollers travel downwardalong the tracks the panels will not press against the jamb until thepoint of complete closure is reached.

Thus each pair of panel rollers must be mounted on brackets havingprogressively longer roller mounting arms;

With a conventional, four panel overhead door, four different sets ofpaired roller brackets having roller mounting arms of four difierentlengths are reequired.

This not only increases manufacturing costs but also means that thedealer must maintain an inventory of four different size brackets,without the convenience of interchangeability of parts.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide afour-panel, overhead rolling door having a single roller mountingbracket unit that may be used to provide all 4 different roller mountingpositions required by such a door.

Another object is to provide a roller support bracket that may be madefrom a single length of extruded tubing.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference numerals and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the rolling overhead garage door, thatis the subject of this invention, showing the inner side of the door asit appears in its closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of FIGURE 3 is a perspective supportbrackets;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the same taken the line and in thedirection of the the same; view of one of the roller along arrows 4-4 ofFIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the roller bracket and roller mountedthereon;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the roller and its shaft; and,

3,175,757 Iatented Apr. 6, 1965 FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG- URE1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is seen in FIGURES 1and 2 the rolling, overhead garage door that is the subject of thisinvention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 20, as it appearsmounted in rolling engagement with a pair of tracks 21 and 22 positionedon the inner sides of the jambs 28 of a door opening frame 23.

The edges 26 of the tracks 21 and 22 are curved inwardly toward eachother to form a retaining and guiding channel for the hereinafterdescribed door rollers so, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 7.

The door 26 is connected in the usual manner to countor-balancingsprings or weights not shown, through suspension cables 24 which travelover pulleys 25.

The tracks 21 and 22 have straight, vertical sections inclined at anangle away from the door jambs 28 and are curved rearwardly at theirupper ends into a horizontal section 27, extending away from the dooropening 23, whereon the door 20 rests when in its open position, notillustrated.

The door 20, comprising 4 articulated panel sections 30 which togetherdefine a closure which extends across the building opening 23, as seenin FIGURE 2.

It is to be understood that the length, width, and number of panels 30is dependent upon the size of the door opening 23, but with the averagesize opening used in garages adapted to hold conventional passengerautomobiles, the four-paneled door 20, illustrated, is adequate.

The so joined panels 3% are slidably mounted on the tracks 21 and 22 bymeans of roller bracket assemblies, broadly indicated by referencenumeral 50, which are mounted on the hinges 44 adjacent each track asseen in FIGURE 1, and in enlarged detail in FIGURE 7.

As explained hereinabove, with overhead door installations of this typethe vertical sections of the tracks, on which the door panels aremounted, are inclined at a slight angle away from their associated doorjambs 28, as is illustrated in the case of track 21 in FIGURE 7, inorder to avoid the excessive frictional drag which would be created bymoving the door 24 vertically along the entire face of the door jambs 28in weather-tight pressed engagement therewith.

It will be evident from a study of FIGURE 7 that in order to seat thefour panel sections 30 in pressed engagement against the jamb 28 whilemounted on the inwardly inclined track 21, each roller 63 must beslightly to the rear of the one below it.

In order to achieve with the use of a single roller bracket unit thestructure broadly indicated by reference numeral Eli, in FIGURE 5, isused.

Reference numeral 66 indicates a bracket body made in the form of anextrusion having dependent first mounting flange 52 at its base, alaterally extending horizontal wall 51 at to the base, and an upstandingsecond mounting flange 53 positioned along the outer edge of the wall 51spaced outwardly of the plane of the first mounting flange 52.

Reference numerals 54 and 55 indicate two spaced and parallel boresextending the length of the body 66.

Both bores 54 and 55 being in planes parallel to that of the offsetflanges 52 and 53.

The first mounting flange 52 has two mounting screw holes 65 and thesecond mounting flange .53 has similar mounting holes 64.

A solid shaft 61 is adapted to snugly interfit either of the bracketbores 54 and 55. v

A guide wheel, or roller 60, is journaled at one end of the shaft 61 onball bearings 62.

Reference numeral 63 indicates a locating stop on the shaft 61 whichnormally abuts the end of bracket body 66 when the shaft is properlyseated in either of the bores, as seen in FIGURE 5.

The spacing between the centers of the shaft bores 54 and 55 and betweenthe mounting faces of the flanges 52 and 53 is calculated to providefour different inwardly spaced positions for the roller shaft 61 withreference to the panel section 30 on which it is mounted, as seen inFIGURE 7.

With the degree inclination of the track 21, illustrated in FIGURE 7, asan example, the distance between the mounting face of flange 52 and thecenter-line of bore 54 is 0.312". The distance between the mounting faceof flange 53 and the center-line of bore 54 is 0.593", and the distancebetween the center-line of bores 54 and 55 is 0.562".

Thus, when the shaft 61 is seated in the bracket bore 54 with bracket 66mounted on the panel 30 through its first flange 52 the roller shaft 61is positioned 0.312 from the panel 30.

If the bracket is mounted on its second flange 53, leav ing the shaft 61in bore 54, the shaft will be in a second position spaced 0.593 from thepanel 30, or 0.281" be yond its first or basic position.

By mounting the bracket on flange 52 with the shaft 61 in bore 55, theshaft will be in a third position spaced 0.874" from the panel, or0.562" beyond its first position.

By mounting the bracket on its second flange 53 with the shaft 61 inbracket bore 55, the shaft will be in a fourth position spaced 1.155"from the panel 30, or 0.843" beyond its first position.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the roller unit 50, to securethese four different positions for the roller 60 and its shaft 61, asystem of longitudinal grooves, identified by reference numerals 56, 57,58 and 59, are used on the block 66, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 4.

On the side of the bore 54 opposite the first flange 52, there is onegroove 56, and on the side of the bore 55 opposite the flange 52, thereare three grooves 58.

On the side of the bore 54 opposite the second flange 53, there are twogrooves 57, while on the side of the bore opposite the flange 53, thereare four grooves 59.

The four different positions desired are secured by having the shaft 61mounted in the bore having the corresponding number of grooves that areopposite their associated mounting flange.

This will be more easily understood by referring to FIGURE 7 wherein thefirst, or basic position of the shaft is illustrated by the rollerassembly unit identified by reference numeral 50 wherein the bracket ismounted on the panel through the first flange 52 by means of screws 67and the roller shaft 61 is mounted in bracket bore 54, identitified bythe single groove 56. i

The next higher roller unit is at the second position indicated byreference numeral 50 wherein the bracket is mounted on its second flange53 with the roller shafit 61 mounted in bore identified by the twogrooves 57.

The third position of the roller unit is identified by reference numeral511 wherein the bracket is mounted on its first flange 52 with the shaft61 mounted in the bore identified by the three grooves 58.

The fourth position of the roller unit is identified by referencenumeral 50 wherein the bracket is mounted on its second flange 53 withthe roller shaft 61 mounted in the bore identified by the four grooves59.

Thus, a single roller bracket unit 50 can be adapted to provide fourdifferent positions for the rollers relative to the door panels 30, onthe inclined tracks 21 and 22, in order to hold the outer faces of thedoor panels 30 in pressed engagement against the door jambs 28, when thedoor 20 is in its closed position.

It is of course to be understood that spacing of the various flanges andbores can be appropriately varied to adapt the roller units 50 for usewith guide rails of different angular inclination. It is also possibleto adapt the unit for use with doors having more than four panels 30 byadding an additional, properly spaced bore, for every two additionalpanels.

A fifth roller bracket assembly, identified by reference numeral 91 isused to support the upper edge of the door against the curved part ofthe tracks 21 and 22, as seen in FIGURE 1. This bracket 91, ofnecessity, must have its roller a substantially greater distance fromthe rear of the door face, and therefore must be specially constructedfor this position.

Reference numeral 90 indicates a resilient rubber weather-strip which ismounted the length of the bottom edge of the door 20 by means of screws89, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 7.

The weather-strip 90 is semi-rigid so that it normally supports theweight of the door about /2" above the door sill, when closed, but canbe forcibly flattened by pushing down on the door handle $6 to permitthe door to move downward about The closed door 20, as seen in FIGURE 1,is locked in place by means of latch, broadly indicated by referencenumeral 7 0.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishesthe objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is tohe understood that the specific embodiment thereof, as described andillustrated herein, is not to be considered in a limited sense as theremay be other forms or modifications of the invention which should alsobe construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an overhead rolling door of the type including aguide track having horizontally disposed sections and upright sectionsinclined relative to the door opening frame and a plurality ofarticulated panel sections mounted on the track through rollers, aroller support for the panels, comprising, a bracket member having abody portion including first and second mounting flanges for securingthe body to the panel sections, the mounting surface of the secondflange being spaced outwardly of the mounting surface of the firstflange, the bracket body also having two bores therethrough, spaced fromand parallel to each other and to the mounting flanges, the distancebetween the axes of the bores being twice the distance between themounting surfaces of the first and second bracket flanges, and, a

shaft having a roller journaled at one end thereof, adapted to beremovably seated through either of the mounted bracket bores with itsroller engaged with the door guide track, whereby said roller shaft maybe located in four different predetermined positions relative to thedoor panel, depending upon whether the bracket body is mounted on itsfirst or second flange, and whether the roller shaft is positionedthrough the first or second bore.

2. A device of the type defined in claim 1 and further characterized bythe spacing between the mounting surfaces of the first and secondbracket flanges being proportional to the angle of inclination of theupright section of the guide track.

3. A device of the type defined in claim 1 and further characterized bythe bracket body having shaft bore identifying grooves cut thereinaligned with the first mounting flange, there being one groove at thefirst bore and three grooves at the second bore; the body also havingsimilar shaft bore identifying grooves aligned with the second mountingflange, there being two grooves at the first bore and four grooves atthe second bore.

4. A device of the type defined in claim 1 and further characterized bythe bracket body having shaft-bore identify-ing indicia thereon alignedwith the first and second mounting flanges.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Ferris et a1. 160209 Buehner 160209 Rowe 160--229Schlytern 160-229 Peterson 292-223 Stroup 160-209 Stroup 160-229 Clifton292--223 Stroup 160-209 Pyka.

Stroup 160201 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN OVERHEAD ROLLING DOOR OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AGUIDE TRACK HAVING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SECTIONS AND UPRIGHT SECTIONSINCLINED RELATIVE TO THE DOOR OPENING FRAME AND A PLURALITY OFARTICULATED PANEL SECTIONS MOUNTED ON THE TRACK THROUGH ROLLERS, AROLLER SUPPORT FOR THE PANELS, COMPRISING, A BRACKET MEMBER HAVING ABODY PORTION INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND MOUNTING FLANGES FOR SECURINGTHE BODY TO THE PANEL SECTIONS, THE MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE SECONDFLANGE BEING SPACED OUTWARDLY OF THE MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE FIRSTFLANGE, THE BRACKET BODY ALSO HAVING TWO BORES THERETHROUGH, SPACED FROMAND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE MOUNTING FLANGES, THE DISTANCEBETWEEN THE AXES OF THE BORES BEING TWICE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMOUNTING SURFACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND BRACKET FLANGES, AND, A SHAFTHAVING A ROLLER JOURNALED AT ONE END THEREOF, ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLESEATED THROUGH EITHER OF THE MOUNTED BRACKET BORES WITH ITS ROLLERENGAGED WITH THE DOOR GUIDE TRACK, WHEREBY SAID ROLLER SHAFT MAY BELOCATED IN FOUR DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE DOORPANEL, DEPENDING UPON WHETHER THE BRACKET BODY IS MOUNTED ON ITS FIRSTOR SECOND FLANGE, AND WHETHER THE ROLLER SHAFT IS POSITIONED THROUGH THEFIRST OR SECOND BORE.